The End of Plaid shows: era finishes in Easton

The annual plaid-themed art show is at the Gallery of St. John's Lutheran Church in Easton (HARRY FISHER / THE MORNING CALL)

Tim HigginsSpecial to The Morning Call

The End of Plaid shows: an era concludes in Easton

And so, dear friends, this is the end of The Plaidists, and we are gathered here to honor this diverse bunch of artists with an uncommon love (or is it fascination?) of anything striped and crossed.

Never heard of The Plaidists? Not suprising. They aren't what you would call a serious art movement, but they have had a peculiar, if not zany, approach to art showcased in annual shows held every March and April in Easton for the past 16 years.

"Sweet Sixteen: The Last Annual Plaid Show," presented by the Arts Community of Easton and The Gallery at St. John's, on display at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, is their last hurrah.

The show, which runs through April 26, includes 40 pieces by 30 artists — paintings, textiles, crafts and more.

There's "Primary Plaids," a trompe-l'oeil painting featuring three tubes of paint — red plaid, yellow plaid and blue plaid — that are an absurdity, like the show was always meant to be. Some works reference the end of the Plaidists, such as "Torn Apart," a found object collection of torn pieces from plaid shirts.

If you're thinking this is based on love of the Scottish tartan or even Celtic tradition … well, not really. The Plaid Show was founded in 1999 as a source of camaraderie centered on one man's humorous observation — with tongue firmly in cheek — about life and art. And the Plaid movement has come to mean many things to many people.

"It's been a lot of fun" says MariAn Olson, chairwoman of the fine arts committee at St. John's, which has hosted the shows almost since the beginning. "So many of the originals from 16 years ago have either died or moved away," she says, "so it just seems as if it has run its course."

It all began with a single notion by one man.

"Back in 1999, a beloved local artist, Emil Buccos, became inspired by the rich diversity and history of plaid," says Pamalee LaDuca, one of the original group of plaid artists. She says Buccos was inspired by "the profusion of plaid flannel shirts sported by at least one friend of his that winter."

Buccos had the idea for a one-person show at Easton's Quadrant Coffeehouse and Bookmart for the following March and began a series of plaid-inspired paintings. But there was a problem.

"During one of our frequent gatherings — at the Quadrant, I think — Emil lamented that he didn't think he could finish enough paintings for his show," LaDuca says. "Since Emil's creative sparks had ignited plaid inspirations that were smoldering in all of us, of course, we all chimed in: We'll do plaid paintings — it can be a group show!"

Thus was born the first Plaid Show, which opened with a reception that featured plaid food (and even some plaid inspired poetry by Emil's wife Mary) to go along with a variety of plaid-inspired art produced by the first Plaidists, a group of Buccos' friends and fellow artists that included Jim Hicks, Virginia Abbott, Bob Thena, Isadore LaDuca and Joe LaDuca.

But you wouldn't have exactly known who was involved. From the beginning, they all used fake names to sign their work.

"Emil became Emilio Buccasso," LaDuca says, "and everyone, exhibitors and visitors alike, would have to wear plaid in order to get in to see the show. We called ourselves Men In Plaid, MIP, and Women In Plaid, WIP — Plaidists, for short and The Plaidist Society."

"We started wearing more plaid and noticing plaid patterns in all kinds of places. One of our group, Jim Hicks, even created a secret, subtle hand sign (the fingers of both hands crossed over each other) with which active members of MIP and WIP could acknowledge each other."

Buccos even came up with the Plaidist Credo: "Do as little as possible, for as long as possible — for as long as you can get away with it."

There are many homages to Buccos, who died in 2006, in the current show, including a prominently placed Bucasso Cup, a small trophy that stands with one of his paintings, titled "Zebra with Red Eye," which is exactly that, a mass of black and white stripes with a single red eye.

There's also a photo of Buccos on a composite of favorite silly works created over the years.

Throughout St. John's small gallery the spirit of Buccos and his idea is found everywhere.

There's "Plaid Eating Factory Fish," electronic innards glued on to a wooden fish, paired with "Stained Glass Shad," with a plaid pattern. There's a couple stuffed animals in plaid, including "Cranky Welsh Rabbit" by Plaidy O'Hare, and a take on Johannes Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring" called "Girl with a Plaid Headwrap" by Paddy Plaidaganet.

Judges Haley Bang, Barbara Kowitz and St. John's Rev. William Wightman selected winners in the categories "Best-of-Plaid," "Honorably Second-Best-of-Plaid" and the first ever "Third Best of Plaid," along with other humorous award categories.

First prize went to the portrait painting "Curly Afro Plaid" by Holly Luya, a large acrylic on canvas featuring a face with colorful afro hair on a background of plaid and flowers. Second prize went to "Torn Apart," by Rhemy and third prize to "Plaid Mosaic Table," a small table in pastel green and white, topped with glass tiles, by G.O. Metrix Tyler.

Complementing the show are pictures from past Plaid Shows where one can see the board game Plaidopoly and even a plaid take on Marcel Duchamp's "Nude Descending a Staircase."

"Over the past 15 years, the Plaid Show has featured an amazing variety of art and craft works," LaDuca says. "But as with all bursts of creativity, the fires of inspiration burn brightly for a while, then gradually burn low."